Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Fred had his blood work done yesterday. Here are the results:

White blood cell count: 8.4 (normal range)
Red blood cell count: 3.85 (low, but okay)
Hemoglobin: 13.4 (low, but okay)
Platelets: 143,000 (in normal range)
Lymph count: 0.8 (normal range)
Lymph percentage: 9.6 (low, but okay)

Mayo was pleased with the results and chemo is on for next week. Hopefully this will be the last chemo treatment. One day at a time.

Fred has been feeling pretty good.

Fred and I wish everyone a Happy, HEALTHY, New Year.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Our family would like to wish all of you a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR.

Sorry I haven't posted for a while, but when the doctor put me on an antibiotic (because of Fred) I got sick. I am now on my second antibiotic.

Fred had blood work done yesterday and here are the results:

White blood cell count: 10.9 (normal 4.1 - 10.9)
Red blood cell count: 3.79 (low, normal 4.69-6.13)
Hemoglobin: 13.3 (low, normal 14.1 - 17.9)
Platelets: 174,000 (normal 140,000 - 440,000)

Dr. Solberg is more concerned with his lymph count which is 0.7 (normal is 0.6 - 4.1). Being at the low normal range he is more susceptible to infection. So we just have to watch that. Hence that is why I am now on a second antibiotic.

Fred has been feeling pretty good lately. He will go for more blood work next week.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Fred has still been running a low-grade fever and developed a cough. He talked to Marcia (Dr. Solberg's nurse) and she told us to go to the local doctor and have blood work done and see the doctor here.

Fred is now an additional antibiotic and medication for the cough. So between the two antibiotics hopefully he will knock the infection out of his system.

His blood work wasn't too bad. His white blood cell count is up, but that is due to the infection. Here are his results:

white blood cell count: 8.8 (normal range, but due to infection)
red blood cell count: 3.62 (low)
hemoglobin: 12.6 (low)
platelets: 133,000 (low)

Hopefully this will get out of his system soon and we can start getting him out of the house. I am going to the doctor to get something tomorrow so I don't catch something (got to kill the germs).

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Fred has been running a low-grade fever for the last two days. He sleeps on and off and of course is bored just staying in the house, but that is what the doctor means by isolation. He has to remember it is either isolation at home or he will end up in isolation in the hospital.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Okay here is the scoop: We went to Mayo today, had blood work done and saw Dr. Solberg. Believe it or not, Fred's white blood cell count went from 900 (or .9) yesterday to 2,200 (or 2.2) today.

His red blood cell count was 3.50 (low, but okay)
His platelets were 141,000 (yesterday they were 109,000)
His hemoglobin was 12.7 (low, but okay)
His absolute neutrophils were 6.4 (normal is 1.7-7.0) (Dr. Solberg watches this number very closely also.

We are now home. Dr. Solberg said the combination of the chemotherapy last week and the infection Fred had caused the low white blood cell count. He was pleased that it is going up on its own and did not feel a white blood cell booster injection would be necessary. Of course they are going to coninue to watch Fred's blood work next week very closely.

Fred just has to stay away from people, no stores (which he said he has a good excuse now not to do any Christmas shopping), and continue his antibiotic for another week. Basically stay home and drive me crazier!

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Fred and I are headed to Jacksonville tomorrow. His blood work today was not good and Dr. Solberg wants more blood work tomorrow and then we will see him. In a nutshell, Fred has no immune system right now.

Here are the results:
White blood cells: .9 (normal is 4.1-10.9)
Red blood cells: 3.68 (normal is 4.69-6.13)
Hemoglobin: 13.0 (normal is 14.1-17.9)
Platelets: 109,000 (normal is 140,000-440,000)

Fred's blood work is at noon and his appointment with Dr. Solberg is at 2:00 pm. I will keep you posted.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

The only change in Fred today is that he is feeling very tired. He has no energy.

He is having blood work tomorrow, so we will see where his numbers are at.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Fred is doing better today, still not great, but much better than he was this weekend.

He went for a short walk outside this evening. That is a huge step in the right direction.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Fred is feeling a little better today. His temperature has not been high today. He talked to Marcia (Dr. Solberg's nurse) today and she said to continue taking his antibiotic and let them know of any change.

So again, one day at a time.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Fred still does not feel well. The only change is he is not nauseous anymore. His temperature got up to 100.0, but luckily Tylenol got it down to 99.0 so far. He also is complaining about muscle pain in his legs.

Hopefully I will have better news tomorrow. We just take it one day at a time.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Fred is not feeling well today at all. He aches, is nauseous and has pain when urinating, and running a low grade fever. I called the Mayo Clinic doctor on call for the weekend and he ordered an antibiotic for him. Hopefully this will take care of the problem. We have to keep them informed at Mayo.

If his fever ever gets to 100.4 I am to take him to the emergency room, so I figured we better do something now so we don't have to do that later. I am keeping my fingers crossed the antibiotic works.

On a much happier note our eldest daughter, Carrie, graduated today with her master's in business administration from Southeastern University. We are sorry we could not be there, but with the advances these days we were able to watch the ceremony on the internet. So we did get to see her get her diploma.

Friday, December 5, 2008

We are back in Vero Beach. Fred received his Neulasta injection this morning and then we headed home.

Fred is not feeling well today. He has been nauseous and very lethargic. Hopefully this will pass in a couple of days.

Thank you to everyone for their good wishes and prayers. They have helped us tremendously.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Cycle 5 of chemotherapy is over. The nurse gave Fred his Benadryl by IV today and it didn't take more than a minute and he was out. He barely moved through the whole process. He was a little off balance walking back to our hotel room so I just held on to him and guided him back. He is sound to sleep now, just mumbling now and then.

Tomorrow he gets his Neulasta injection and then we can head home.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Chemo is done for today. Fred is sleeping. He seems to be a little "loopier" (if that is a word) today. I think as the week goes on the combination of the Benadryl and the drugs accumulate in his system and make him "loopy".

Loopy and loopier are my words for the day. I think the whole thing is getting to my brain too.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Today's chemotherapy went fine. Fred received the fludarabine and cytoxan drugs. They lowered the Benadryl amount he received and he seemed to be less out of it this afternoon. Moody, yes, out of it, not so much.

Our youngest daughter, Amanda, came to chemo with us today. She gives me time to go for a walk and a coffee break. Thanks Amanda.

Monday, December 1, 2008

Dr. Solberg is very pleased with Fred's response to the FCR (fludarabine, cytoxan, and rituxan) "cocktail" treatment. The FISH test (more extensive blood tests) taken last month showed all abnormalities in the normal range now. GREAT NEWS!

His blood work today is as follows:
Hemoglobin: 14.2 (normal range)
Red blood cells: 3.93 (low, but no concern right now)
White blood cells: 7.3 (normal range)
Platelets: 109,000 (low, we just have to keep an eye on this)

It has been a long day of chemo today. Fred is sleeping now. He has slept through most of the treatment today. Like I said it was long and the Benadryl really knocks him out. Dr. Solberg is cutting back on the Benadryl for the next 3 days of treatment so hopefully he won't be so "out of it".

Dr. Solberg explained to us today that the bone marrow biopsy will not be done next month. The rituxan usually stays in the body for up to 2 months following treatment, so they will wait until March of so before this procedure is done again.

Fred's last chemo treatment is scheduled for the first week of January.